Article: Teen graffiti artist killed by train in tunnel

[Fares_Fair]

Article: Teen graffiti artist killed by train in tunnel
Ninemsn online news.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8401651/teen-graffiti-artist-killed-by-train

A teenager killed by a train in Sydney's inner west may have been spraying graffiti, police say.

Officers were called to Lewisham railway station shortly after 9.30pm (AEDT) on Wednesday following reports a train driver had hit something.

An 18-year-old man's body was found in the tunnel of the West Street overpass.

It is believed he may have been spraying graffiti inside the tunnel with friends when he was hit.

The man is yet to be formally identified or his next of kin notified.

A short time later four males attended Glebe police station to report the incident and were helping police with their inquiries.

The male train driver and guard were breath tested and returned negative readings.

Marrickville police are preparing a coronial report

[Gazza]

Darwin award.

[#Metro]

I pose a question - why is it always trains.

You NEVER see BCC buses going around covered in graffiti - ever!
The bus depot doesn't have razor wire all over it
I've never seen people hang around the busway drinking/chroming/injecting
The busway corridor is effectively pristine - despite kilometres of white panelling and blank concrete panels?
I am yet to hear of someone illegally walking down the busway getting hit by a bus

What explains this??

[Mr X]

Similarly TT, why not ferries?

[Jonas Jade]

I pose a question - why is it always trains.

You NEVER see BCC buses going around covered in graffiti - ever!
The bus depot doesn't have razor wire all over it
I've never seen people hang around the busway drinking/chroming/injecting
The busway corridor is effectively pristine - despite kilometres of white panelling and blank concrete panels?
I am yet to hear of someone illegally walking down the busway getting hit by a bus

What explains this??

Is this an argument for converting the Ipswich line to busway? 

[O_128]

I pose a question - why is it always trains.

You NEVER see BCC buses going around covered in graffiti - ever!
The bus depot doesn't have razor wire all over it
I've never seen people hang around the busway drinking/chroming/injecting
The busway corridor is effectively pristine - despite kilometres of white panelling and blank concrete panels?
I am yet to hear of someone illegally walking down the busway getting hit by a bus

What explains this??

Is this an argument for converting the Ipswich line to busway? 

This actually confuses me, As Ive said I think certain people have a fetish for loitering at rail stations. Not to mention most of these idiots probably wouldn't be able to use the busway due to the illegible cluster**** of routes. And don't forget there is always a bus at a busway station where for 58 minutes out of every hour most rail stations are deserted.

[Mozz]

Being true to their modern graffiti roots I suspect is the reason for trains and not buses or ferries or taxis or citycycles ...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti

[HappyTrainGuy]

Also busways are harder to access and hiding is harder compared to a train line.

[#Metro]

It might be a cultural thing -- and that can be changed.

Not being able to use the service - that doesn't make sense.
Harder access doesn't stack up either - the platforms are what, almost level with the guideway.
Frequency doesn't explain it either - after midnight there really aren't services, the whole thing is empty.

What is so different about a bus depot compared to a train depot? Again, doesn't make sense...

I think if the reasons why buses are not graffitied could be identified, perhaps that could be applied to rail as well, and save a lot of money.

[petey3801]

It might be a cultural thing -- and that can be changed.

Not being able to use the service - that doesn't make sense.
Harder access doesn't stack up either - the platforms are what, almost level with the guideway.
Frequency doesn't explain it either - after midnight there really aren't services, the whole thing is empty.

What is so different about a bus depot compared to a train depot? Again, doesn't make sense...

I think if the reasons why buses are not graffitied could be identified, perhaps that could be applied to rail as well, and save a lot of money.

- Can't trip the traffic lights on a busway to cause the bus to stop and stay - Train they can

- Roads are generally lit reasonably well, well enough that the driver/passengers will be able to see the people and a bus is not stationary for long periods - Train lines are dark, the vandals can go to the end of the train where there are no crew, often the rear 3 cars are shut down so no passengers are there to see them, they're significantly below window level when painting a train on track.

- Train yards are generally much larger than bus depots, meaning it's much harder to keep every part under constant surveylance.


Majority of graffiti on trains does not occur while the train is at the platform (well, not on the platform side, at least). It most often occurs on the off-platform side or mid-track where they have tripped the signalling system. Not as much seems to occur within stabling yards anymore that I hear of/see, possibly due to the greater amount of security guards posted.

I guess it's simply a case of the trains being an easier target, simply because there aren't as many eyes to see them.

[HappyTrainGuy]

It might be a cultural thing -- and that can be changed.

Not being able to use the service - that doesn't make sense.
Harder access doesn't stack up either - the platforms are what, almost level with the guideway.
Frequency doesn't explain it either - after midnight there really aren't services, the whole thing is empty.

What is so different about a bus depot compared to a train depot? Again, doesn't make sense...

I think if the reasons why buses are not graffitied could be identified, perhaps that could be applied to rail as well, and save a lot of money.

If you think its easier to access by walking off a level platform then yes, yes it is easier. So is walking into a railway corridor from a level crossing (Which is how Caboolture Yard is vandalised when vandals run beside/behind passing freight trains - Posted guards can't hear or see people running beside a moving freight train with a dark background). Its how do you access the corridor to start off with. Via the bus station with multiple CCTV cameras, over the tall sound reducing walls, sprinting a couple hundred metres and tagging in CCTV recorded tunnels compared to climbing over or cutting through a tattered wire fence. During the floods all the trains tagged at platform level (Especially Wooloowin) were all done out of view of CCTV cameras because they entered the corridor from other locations out of CCTV view. In a railway corridor they hide behind signal/trackside equipment boxes, in the long grass, down the enbankment in unlit areas while a busway is pretty much a fence 3 lanes wide and then a motorway with good lighting. There was one stage at Shorncliffe where vandals were hiding and accessing the corridor from the Golf Course/level crossing, waiting for the train to pull up to be turned around before going to town on the final few carriages out of view from staff. Trains that are stopped on island platforms also get tagged out of CCTV view. Trains are pretty much sitting ducks as they are so long with only a few people looking after the whole thing at one given time.

[Cam]

Is this an argument for converting the Ipswich line to busway? 

This could be a topic of it's own. I'm not supporting it but there would be benefits:

1) A massive increase in the frequency of services.

2) No delays due to track faults, signal faults & police incidents.

3) A considerable drop in anti-social behaviour on services & probably on platforms too. Has anyone seen or heard of chroming on buses in Brisbane?

4) Regular NightLink services.

[somebody]

Is this an argument for converting the Ipswich line to busway? 

This could be a topic of it's own. I'm not supporting it but there would be benefits:

1) A massive increase in the frequency of services.

2) No delays due to track faults, signal faults & police incidents.

3) A considerable drop in anti-social behaviour on services & probably on platforms too. Has anyone seen or heard of chroming on buses in Brisbane?

4) Regular NightLink services.

Ooh, mischievous!

I guess there is another plus: full time express services!

[#Metro]

Is this an argument for converting the Ipswich line to busway?

Er, no.

1. Can't run coal on it
2. Already exists

Next argument please.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Is this an argument for converting the Ipswich line to busway? 

This could be a topic of it's own. I'm not supporting it but there would be benefits:

1) A massive increase in the frequency of services.

2) No delays due to track faults, signal faults & police incidents.

3) A considerable drop in anti-social behaviour on services & probably on platforms too. Has anyone seen or heard of chroming on buses in Brisbane?

4) Regular NightLink services.

Good luck. Its the only line connecting the entire western and south western rail network to a shipping port/rest of Australia.

3) Yes. I have been lucky enough to be on a bus with a couple deros sniffing a paint thinner drenched rag. Multiple times too.

[Jonas Jade]

Is this an argument for converting the Ipswich line to busway?

Er, no.

1. Can't run coal on it
2. Already exists

Next argument please.

Oh, lighten up! 

[Arnz]

Is this an argument for converting the Ipswich line to busway?  

This could be a topic of it's own. I'm not supporting it but there would be benefits:

1) A massive increase in the frequency of services.

2) No delays due to track faults, signal faults & police incidents.

3) A considerable drop in anti-social behaviour on services & probably on platforms too. Has anyone seen or heard of chroming on buses in Brisbane?

4) Regular NightLink services.

While we're at it let's convert the entire Australian railway into BUSWAYS!!!!11.  Trucks carrying freight can run inbetween the buses.

We could probably run the Maglev Buses (TM OzScraper Forums) for long distances.  

[Jonas Jade]

Is this an argument for converting the Ipswich line to busway? 

This could be a topic of it's own. I'm not supporting it but there would be benefits:

1) A massive increase in the frequency of services.

2) No delays due to track faults, signal faults & police incidents.

3) A considerable drop in anti-social behaviour on services & probably on platforms too. Has anyone seen or heard of chroming on buses in Brisbane?

4) Regular NightLink services.

 

lol the "Ipswich BUZ"

[Arnz]

Is this an argument for converting the Ipswich line to busway? 

This could be a topic of it's own. I'm not supporting it but there would be benefits:

1) A massive increase in the frequency of services.

2) No delays due to track faults, signal faults & police incidents.

3) A considerable drop in anti-social behaviour on services & probably on platforms too. Has anyone seen or heard of chroming on buses in Brisbane?

4) Regular NightLink services.

 

lol the "Ipswich Maglev BUZ"

Fixed 

[Cam]

3) Yes. I have been lucky enough to be on a bus with a couple deros sniffing a paint thinner drenched rag. Multiple times too.

I thought it may happen but I've never seen it on a BCC service. I guess I should have worded it as "Have you ever seen a group of 12 or 13 year olds that are off their face board a bus with plastic bags/bottles of glue/paint & openly inhale the substances next to passengers?" I've seen this type of behavoiur multiple times on the Ipswich Line between Darra & Ipswich.

Antisocial behaviour occurs on buses but from my observations, it is less common. Perhaps when guards are able to monitor all cameras in real time, there will be less of it on train services.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Is this an argument for converting the Ipswich line to busway?  

This could be a topic of it's own. I'm not supporting it but there would be benefits:

1) A massive increase in the frequency of services.

2) No delays due to track faults, signal faults & police incidents.

3) A considerable drop in anti-social behaviour on services & probably on platforms too. Has anyone seen or heard of chroming on buses in Brisbane?

4) Regular NightLink services.

 

lol the "Ipswich Bogan Maglev BUZ"

Fixed  

Double fix  

@Cam, every train line has someone sniffing some sort of substance. As Dick Johnson said during a mid race interview while driving "Then Brock got past me, would you believe... unfortunately... and that thing of his, like, I nearly choked to death on Mobil 1. It looks like the last train to Ferny Grove."  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXznGBvDIX4&t=7m2s

[Jonas Jade]

Is this an argument for converting the Ipswich line to busway?  

This could be a topic of it's own. I'm not supporting it but there would be benefits:

1) A massive increase in the frequency of services.

2) No delays due to track faults, signal faults & police incidents.

3) A considerable drop in anti-social behaviour on services & probably on platforms too. Has anyone seen or heard of chroming on buses in Brisbane?

4) Regular NightLink services.

 

lol the "Ipswich Bogan Maglev City Precincts BUZ - Express Darra to Roma St"

Fixed  

Double fix  

Triple fix      

[Mr X]

...

[p858snake]

3) Yes. I have been lucky enough to be on a bus with a couple deros sniffing a paint thinner drenched rag. Multiple times too.

I thought it may happen but I've never seen it on a BCC service. I guess I should have worded it as "Have you ever seen a group of 12 or 13 year olds that are off their face board a bus with plastic bags/bottles of glue/paint & openly inhale the substances next to passengers?" I've seen this type of behavoiur multiple times on the Ipswich Line between Darra & Ipswich.

Antisocial behaviour occurs on buses but from my observations, it is less common. Perhaps when guards are able to monitor all cameras in real time, there will be less of it on train services.

Partly I guess, is that you need to pass a driver on the way into the bus in most cases, where as a train is longer and has more unguarded access points.

[Golliwog]

I think CPTED has to come into it somewhere as well.

[longboi]

CPTED does go a long way in preventing vandalism on the busways. But I think there is definately a cultural element where trains have been a "traditional" target for graffiti dating back to the NYC subway in the 70's.

[Golliwog]

Does Fortitude Valley or Darra or Richlands get vandalised like many of the other stations do? Not a loaded question, I'm interested to find out, but I expect if they do get vandalised, it's much less than other stations.

[Fares_Fair]

Does Fortitude Valley or Darra or Richlands get vandalised like many of the other stations do? Not a loaded question, I'm interested to find out, but I expect if they do get vandalised, it's much less than other stations.

Your rationale, Golliwog (from someone not familiar with the particular pecularities of those locations) ?

Regfards,
Fares_Fair.

[longboi]

Does Fortitude Valley or Darra or Richlands get vandalised like many of the other stations do? Not a loaded question, I'm interested to find out, but I expect if they do get vandalised, it's much less than other stations.

Your rationale, Golliwog (from someone not familiar with the particular pecularities of those locations) ?

Regfards,
Fares_Fair.

They have all been recently upgraded/built with CPTED principals in mind.

I personally have found those particular stations to always be in good condition and free from vandalism (The same for Coopers Plains-Kuraby)

[Gazza]

The S2K station always seem to be in good nick too. I once saw runcorn with a giant tag on one of the lift towers, but that didn't last long.

Don't think I have ever seen anything amiss at Oxley, which is also a recent upgrade.

[Golliwog]

Nikko and Gaza got my rationale in one. I don't use them much either, but little I have seen or heard of those has rarely, if ever been marred by graffiti.

[HappyTrainGuy]

The innercity stations such as Brunswick Street don't get vansalised due to them being heavily manned pretty much 24/7 and the more advanced/higher quality CCTV feeds (There's still the odd scribble marker pen tags here and there but they are very quickly removed) but there are still people that access the corridor between Brunswick Street-Central and vandalise the overhead bridges/trackside equipment/insides of the tunnel etc. The newer stations between Coopers Plains and Kuraby may have been upgraded to prevent it but they are still vandalised. Altandi and Runcorn frequently have the overhead bridges vandalised, noise barriers along the corridor still get tagged, glass bottles are still thrown at the buildings/platforms, some dills set fire to a few mx newspapers at Runcorn during those random fires mid/late last year, there are still assults, people still get mugged and so on and so on. If its a slow news day the media might pick up on something that happened and run a 'is transport safe' story.